VHSL Group AAA State Indoor T&F Championships 2010

Hampton, VA
Hosted by Bethel

Coverage

VA 3A State Indoor - Boys 300 Sec 1-4 Mar 02, 2010

Section 1 - Allan Meyer (Oakton) 37.13 Section 2 - Fabian Jarrett (Salem) 36.32 Section 3 - Dythaniel Lewis (Warwick) 36.00 Section 4 - Anthony Finney (Varina) 35.18

VA 3A State Indoor - Girls 300 Sec 1-4 Mar 02, 2010

Section 1 - Felecia Majors (South County) 43.25 Section 2 - Lora Wilson (George Washington) 41.44 Section 3 - Mary Allen (John Marshall) 40.49 Section 4 - Tanisha Greene (Landstown) - 40.12

State Indoor Championships Photos & Videos Mar 01, 2010

We are still in the process of capturing, editing, and uploading a great abundance of photo and video from this past weekend's VHSL State Indoor Championships in Hampton and Lynchburg. Check back throughout the week as photos and videos continued to be added from various contributors.   AAA State Meet Video - A total of 106 videos are now uploaded from the meet! All interviews (20 total), running events (41 total),  & field events (15 total) videos have been added from Brandon Miles (76 grand total). All Saturday race videos (30 total) from Andy Paisley are now posted . More footage coming from Ron Bayton.   AA State Meet Video - 27 race videos (all running events!) added by Tayloe Skelton.   AAA State Meet Photo Galleries   Ryan Kelly Gallery - 2,923 photos total. All photos from both Friday and Saturday events! Nicoll Knudsen Gallery -  956 photos total. All photos from Saturday events.. Brandon Miles Gallery - Many more photos still to be added.   AA State Meet Photo Galleries   Frank Locascio Gallery - 301 photos currently posted. More to be added soon. David Bradshaw Gallery -  377 total photos posted.

AAA State Meet (Day 2): Wesh US #1 6.30 55, Williams US #1 1:13.30 500, Western Branch sweeps titles Feb 27, 2010

Boys Top 3 Team Scores 1. Western Branch - 41 pts 2. Landstown - 38 pts 3. Ocean Lakes - 34 pts   Girls Top 3 Team Scores 1. Western Branch - 78 pts 2. Great Bridge - 41 pts 3. Midlothian - 35 pts   MileStat.com Boys MVP - Darrell Wesh (Landstown) Photo by Ryan Kelly   The Landstown senior without a doubt, left her older sister's shadows with this overall showing at the 2010 indoor state meet. Wesh blew out the 55 dash finals field in a US #1 6.30 clocking and showed his range beyond 200 meters with a state leading 34.33 300 and second individual state title in the meet. His most incredible race of the day though had to be his 4x400 meter anchor leg with a state team title on the line. Landstown's third leg crashed to the track with the lead before the exchange zone and was able to get back up to hand off to Wesh, but now in third/fourth place with ground to be gained. Wesh nearly pulled it out despite the odds and time lost in a three way photo finish with Booker T. Washington (1st, 3:26.21) and Bethel (2nd, 3:26.28). Wesh anchored Landstown to near 4x400 win and state title with a final time of 3:26.31 for third place.   MileStat.com Girls MVP - Shakeela Saunders (Great Bridge) Photo by Ryan Kelly   The multi-event star Saunders scored 41 points by herself to give Great Bridge second place as a "team". Saunders won state titles in the 300 (39.83) and long jump (19'0.50"), along with runner-up finishes in the 55 meter dash (7.04) and triple jump (39'7.50". Her 300 meter dash win was most impressive on tired legs and bouncing back from an earlier defeat and fourth place finish (1:15.22) in the 500 from a US #1 1:13.30 performance by Green Run's Monica Williams. Saunders was able to make it a draw between her friendly rival with a sub 40 second performance.   2010 VHSL Group AAA State Championships Complete Results        

AAA State Meet Day 1: Golden US #2 40-4.75 TJ, Scarlett US #2 7.99 55H, Simmons US #6 63-3 Shot Feb 26, 2010

Isaiah Simmons VA #4 all-time 63'3" Shot! With three throws over 63 feet in the boys' shot put competition, Woodbridge junior Isaiah Simmons rocked the house at Boo Williams as he successfully defended his indoor state title with VA #4 all-time in the event. The performance also currently ranks Simmons #6 in the United States.   The Western Branch girls have started off the 2010 VHSL Group AAA State Championships with two individual champions in the field events as top seeds Keilah Tyson in the high jump and Sydni Cobb in the shot put had to withstand upset bids by McLean's Dominique Graham and Freedom's Tiera Williams and come out at the end with titles. Tyson won the high jump in 5'8" after battling with Graham (2nd, 5'7") at the three heights by themselves, while Cobb took their fifth attempt to assume the lead over pre-finals leader Williams (38'0") with a top throw of 38'8".   The biggest upset of the meet without a doubt was Patrick Henry junior Tony Green going from third in his regional meet with a PR of under 44 feet in the triple jump to winning the triple jump state title against a field of 49 and 48 footers with a 47'2" final jump as the seventh seed in the finals. The Central Region had more than one surprise champion including Montasia Golden of Lee-Davis in the girls triple jump and Eric Zwarycz of Mills Godwin in the boys pole vault.   More to come from Boo Williams throughout the meet!   Gallery of Champions - View all individual champions so far.   "Live Results" - Includes all of Friday's field events except for girls pole vault which has yet to start.

Athlete Spotlight: Samantha Scarlett & Courtni Pannell Feb 26, 2010

  Coach Eddie Williams at Bethel has had some great pairs and depth of stars at once in the sprint events during his coaching career, but never has he had a pair of hurdlers or quite possibly any high school coach in Virginia as fast as Samantha Scarlett and Courtni Pannell (pictured above by John Herzog). Both are ranked on the state's all-time top 25 list in the 55 meter hurdles with Scarlett as the current state leader and US #7 performer at 8.09, while Pannell is working herself back into her 8.08 Boo Williams facility record form from a year ago after suffering an emergency appendicitis surgery just before the season.   Pannell grew up in the Hampton track scene through summer track and middle school feeding into Bethel, while Scarlett came from out of the country (Jamaica) at the start of her junior year when her stepfather took a job as the hurdles coach at Hampton University. There is a strong shot of a 1-2 finish at the state indoor championships from the Bethel pair in the 55 meter hurdles and a chance to establish themselves as the outright best short hurdles duo in Virginia high school history. Read more for interviews with Scarlett & Pannell..  

Athlete Spotlight: Matt Hazelgren Feb 26, 2010

Prior to this indoor season, Matt Hazelgren's claim to fame on MileStat.com was being the belly flop champion at the 2007 Blue Ridge Running Camp. Thankfully, Hazelgren (pictured above by John Herzog) has developed a few more skills and talents since then including become one of the state's pole vaulters this year. Hazelgren (pictured right by Nicoll Knudsen)  is coming off a personal best and state leading clearance of 15'3" at the Northwest Regional Championships and will be favored at the AAA State Meet against another 15 plus foot vaulter in Matt Hoogland of Lake Braddock, who Hazelgren has defeated twice in head-to-head competition this season. Read more for interview with Matt Hazelgreen...

2010 VHSL Group AAA State Indoor T&F Championships Meet Preview - Friday Running Events Feb 25, 2010

Meet preview for Friday's running events (including prelim events which finals carry over to Saturday). The Lake Braddock and Midlothian girls will pick up from where they left off at Great Meadow in the 4x800 meter relay. The sprint relays are no longer the strength for Western Branch boys, but the 4x800 instead with the addition of a quarter miler to a solid trio of distance runners from the fall.   State leader Daniel McFadden's hamstring injury has opened the door for others to take the title in the boys hurdles, while the Bethel duo of Samantha Scarlett and Courtni Pannell attempts to go 1-2 and become one of the great hurdle pair of all-time in state history. Western Branch's fourth fastest girl in the 55 is faster than all of the regional champions from the other 3 regions led by Keilah Tyson (pictured left by Brandon Miles) shooting for Monique Everett's 23 year old state meet record. Four under 6.40 in the boys 55 dash, but Wesh's consistency keeps him as a heavy favorite.   Preview for Saturday's running events to be posted late Thursday/Friday morning.

Group AAA State Meet Information Feb 25, 2010

Directions to Boo Williams Sportsplex and information on facility, seating, team areas, spikes, packet pick-up, coach passes, weigh-ins, etc.

2010 VHSL Group AAA State Indoor T&F Championships Meet Preview - Field Events Feb 25, 2010

An in-depth preview for all field events at the 2010 VHSL Group AAA State Indoor T&F Championships. Preview for the running events to be posted later on Thursday. Meet records are in jeopardy in the girls pole vault and boys high jump. Justin Hunter (pictured left by Ryan Kelly) of Ocean Lakes is capable of winning all three jumping events which he nearly achieved at last May's outdoor state meet. Meanwhile, defending 55 meter dash state champ Keilah Tyson of Western Branch is in position to win three titles individually with her development in the high and long jump.

Athlete Spotlight: Anthony Kostelac Feb 24, 2010

Photo by Don Rich   The most feared and respected middle distance runner in the state of Virginia, Anthony Kostelac of Albemarle, will be competing this weekend in the 1600 and 1000 at the VHSL Group AAA State Championships. If Kostelac were to win both events, he would be the first male athlete to win both since Alex Tatu of Thomas Dale in 2003 and join a small list of half dozen able to achieve the double in the meet's history. After running on the national record breaking 4x800 meter relays, the attention and focus on Kostelac this year is competing in individual events. The Millrose Mile runner-up Kostelac has stated goals of 4:05 in the 1600 and 1:48 in the 800 which if reached would cement him as arguably the second best high school middle-distance runner in state history behind only mile national record holder Alan Webb. Read more for interview with Anthony Kostelac...

Athlete Spotlight: Monica Williams Feb 24, 2010

With a defending state champion in the 500 meter dash in Genamarie McCant of James Robinson and returning state runner-up in the 300 meter dash in Shakeela Saunders of Great Bridge both back after sensational freshmen seasons, it appeared at the onset of this season that  there would be little room for anyone else to step up into the mix as a state title contender in those two events. Green Run junior Monica Williams (pictured right by Ryan Kelly) changed that mindset in early December when she became the first athlete in the country at that point of the season to break 40 seconds on a flat track in the 300. Considered as more of a 500 meter runner last year, Williams has made great strides this year in the shorter event of the 300 to have knocked off 2-3 seconds from where she was consistently at last year. Williams will be attempting the difficult 500 and 300 meter double on Saturday against defending champ McCant and 300 runner-up Saunders, but is certainly riding high after an undefeated season which included a recent Eastern Region 300 title and US #8 39.32 win over Saunders. Read more for interview with Monica Williams...

Athlete Spotlight: Yazid Zouaimia Feb 24, 2010

The top two seeds in the boys 3200 meter run at this weekend's Group AAA State Championships are very familar with each other in Centreville's Yazid Zouaimia (pictured above by Ted Plunkett) and Chantilly's Chris Foley. Both Concorde District distance runners had aspirations of state championship glory or a Foot Locker Nationals berth in this past fall's cross country sesaon. Neither was able to claim victory at Great Meadow and both ended up shutting down their seasons before Foot Locker South. Zouaimia like Foley will be seeking a nice consolation prize and justification for not attempting to race at Foot Locker South by winning the AAA indoor 3200 state title. Zouaimia ran a personal best of 9:16 earlier in the season in a solo effort at Liberty University, but the Virginia Tech recruit will have plenty of company in the state meet showdown with Foley and his future UVA teammate Drew Paisley. Read more for interview with Yazid Zouaimia...

Athlete Spotlight: Darrell Wesh Feb 23, 2010

Landstown senior Darrell Wesh (pictured above by Ryan Kelly) heads into the 2010 VHSL Group AAA State Indoor Track & Field Championships as the top seed and US leader in the 55 meter dash (6.35), which includes one of the fastest fields in recent meet history with four entrants having clocked times under 6.40 this season. Against a loaded field, Wesh will be attempting to win the 55 meter dash state title last year which eluded his older sister Marlena Wesh's attempt in the sprint triple. As the state runner-up last spring in the 200 meter dash and top returnee from the 100 meter dash, Wesh has really stepped up after his sister's graduation and exceled in the short sprints this winter by consistently running 6.40 or faster in the 55 dash. The Virginia Tech signee also will be featured on the state leading 4x400 meter relay (3:25) on Saturday at Boo Williams. Read more for interview with Darrell Wesh...

Athlete Spotlight: Marques Atkinson Feb 23, 2010

  Atlee junior Marques Atkinson leads the Central Region team champions into this weekend's Group AAA Indoor State Championships as one of most versatile athletes in the meet. Atkinson this season has competed in the hurdles, high jump, long jump, sprints, mid-distance, and relays. He will likely be the book end on both of Atlee's state qualified relays in the 4x800 and 4x400 along with competing in the high jump and long jump. The Central Region 500 champion will be featured in the fast section of his specialty event alongside twin brother Michael as they will attempt to score big points in the 500 against favorite and US leader Taylor Sykes for an Atlee squad looking to break into the top three and build towards an even stronger squad in 2011 with several key returnees. Read more for interview with Marques Atkinson...

Athlete Spotlight: Sydni Cobb Feb 22, 2010

The point scoring machine that is the Western Branch girls has many key pieces and individuals which make them as the heavy favorites to win the Group AAA state title this weekend in Hampton. One key individual who has been with the Western Branch girls over the last three years when they competed in the shadows of their more successful boys programs is senior captain Sydni Cobb. Last June, Cobb was placed in the "emerging elite" division last year in the Nike Outdoor Nationals shot put, which she won that event in a personal best mark of 40'11". Cobb (pictured left by Ted Plunkett) is no longer emerging to be elite as the state's top performer in the shot put with a most recent season best of 40'4.50" at the Eastern Region Championships. Cobb will be attempting to win her first state title and kick start Western Branch's state championship run on Friday at the Boo Williams Sportsplex. Read more for interview with Cobb..

2/22 Group AAA State Team Power Rankings Feb 22, 2010

These rankings were calculated by scoring the rankings as a meet. We took the individual rankings and relay rankings and scored them as a normal meet: 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1.   Boys Top 3 1. Western Branch 58 pts 2. Ocean Lakes 41.50 pts 3. Atlee 30.83 pts   Girls Top 3 1. Western Branch 99.50 pts 2. Great Bridge 42 pts 3. Midlothian 38 pts

2/22 Group AAA State Team Depth Rankings Feb 22, 2010

Group AAA depth team rankings through the regional meet results. These rankings were calculated by scoring the top 20 rankings as a meet. We scored 20 deep for individuals and 20 deep for relays. For example, for individuals 1st place received 20 points for their team, on down to 1 point for 20th place.

3 Turn Stagger & Fly Zones will be used at 2010 AAA State Indoor Meet Feb 19, 2010

It has been officially announced that the VHSL Group AAA State Indoor Championships next weekend at Boo Williams will have a three turn stagger in the 4x200 meter relay as well as well as a fly zone may be used in the first exchange of the 4x200. After many years at George Mason and the first year at Boo Williams without a three turn stagger, which directly or indirectly may have caused many collisions and disqualifications in the relay event, this year's move to a three turn stagger with the necessary markings being put down at Boo Williams will hopefully provide for much cleaner races and less contact.

Instructions for coaches entering online for the 2010 VHSL Group AAA State Indoor T&F Championships Feb 18, 2010

Instructions for VHSL Group AAA coaches on how to enter online for the 2010 indoor state meet through the MileSplit online registration system on MileStat.com. The entry system for state meet entries will open for each region once results from regional meets have posted and entered in the MileStat.com database. Northwest Region will open Thursday evening, while the other 3 regions will open on Saturday evening after their meets have been completed. Entry deadline is Sunday, February 21st at 12:59 PM (just before 1 PM).